Non-Metal

Maud the Moth + Trajedesaliva – Bordando el manto terrestre Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 25, 2023 in Reviews, 32 comments

“Unquestionably I spend most of my listening time browsing this site’s namesake aesthetic, but I also enjoy sticking my nose elsewhere to try to catch a whiff of what else may inspire that same special beauty in ugliness I desire. Though the Maud the Moth (Amaya López-Carromero also of healthyliving) side has a metallic line to the pleading halls of Scotland’s Ashenspire, Trajedesaliva (the duo of Mon Ninguén on synths and unavena on voice) hosts no such connection, living in their own experimental electronic ambient world.” MOAR Moth?

Onkos – Vascular Labyrinth Review

By Dear Hollow on May 24, 2023 in Reviews, 25 comments

“A project of San Francisco-based musician Robert Woods-LaDue and Bay-area session jazz musicians, Onkos is definitely metal, but like, what? Most akin to Barcelona flute/double bass bastards Inhumankind, Vascular Labyrinth can be best described as a chamber jazz act covering death metal.” In the veins of weirdness.

The Vagaband – Beautiful World Review

By Kenstrosity on March 10, 2023 in Reviews, Blues, Folk, Non-metal Metal Things, 95 comments

“I was given an unexpected shipment of lemons when I picked up The Vagaband’s fourth LP, Beautiful World, mistakenly labeled by our promo overlords as “Gothic Folk.” Turns out, there’s not a lick of metal—and only a hint of gothic—to be found on Beautiful World, but there’s a helluva lot of folk. With a brave heart and an uncertain spirit, I ventured forth despite the total lack of blog relevance possessed by these songs. Maybe I could make a nice, refreshing pitcher of lemonade out of this after all?” Beautiful accidents.

Läjä Äijälä & Albert Witchfinder – Ordeal and Triumph Review

By Dear Hollow on March 10, 2023 in Reviews, Drone, Electronic, Noise, 57 comments

“Läjä Äijälä and Albert Witchfinder are both veterans to the Finnish music scene, the former best known for his time with punk band Terveet Kädet, while the latter is renowned as vocalist/bassist of Reverend Bizarre – although their collaboration has nothing to do with either. Like 2021 debut Centuries of Youth, Ordeal and Triumph offers three tracks and an hour of a polarizing blend of power electronics, industrial, analog noise, dark ambient, and spoken word.” Enter the Ordeal.

Dälek – Precipice Review

By Dear Hollow on May 2, 2022 in Reviews, 62 comments

“Dälek is a duo from Newark, New Jersey, having quietly added to the late-90s burgeoning industrial rap scene with debut Negro Necro Nekros. Hip-hop courses through this crew’s veins, their compatriots the likes of Death Grips,clipping., and JPEGMAFIA, but metal’s battle jacket graces members MC Dälek and Mike Manteca’s shoulders.” Lethal futures in flimsy wrapping.

Kimono Drag Queens – Songs of Worship Review

By Kenstrosity on November 4, 2020 in Reviews, Psychedelic Rock, Rock, 11 comments

“I was promised sludge. That’s not what I got. Not that I love sludge or anything, but I definitely wanted to know what sludge sounded like coming from a band named Kimono Drag Queens. But no. Copper Feast Records duped me. The shade of it all. Anyway, septet Kimono Drag Queens strut onto the AMG runway regardless, hailing from Sydney and slinging some hella psychedelic blues rock.” Kimono worship.

Bill + Phil – Songs of Darkness and Despair Review

By GardensTale on January 14, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Housecore records, Not Metal, Reviews, Southern Metal, Southern Metal, 27 comments

“Collaborations between metal artists are quite common. The amount of “supergroups,” like Phil Anselmo’s own Down, can attest to that. Less common are collaborations between metal artists and people outside of metal. Sometimes these are successful, like when Anthrax teamed up with Public Enemy for “Bring the Noise.” Other times you get Lulu.” The South will writhe again.

23 Acez – Redemption Waves Review

By El Cuervo on January 7, 2015 in 2015, Belgian Metal, Mighty Music, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, 17 comments

“A little confession: I chose to review the appallingly-titled 23 Acez sophomore effort in a bout of vindictive malice after grappling with a particularly hateful Spanish literature essay. I was pissed off and envisaged venting on a poor rock band just trying to make their way in the world.” We hate, because we care. Not about you, but other important stuff.

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: Igorrr & Ruby My Dear – Maigre EP

By Madam X on January 5, 2015 in 2014, Ad Noiseam Records, Avante Garde, French Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, Non-metal Metal Things, 15 comments

“So you haven’t yet crossed paths with Igorrr’s prior works (Halleluja or Nostril)? Well then, where to begin!” Seems Madam X isn’t quite ready to let go of 2014 and the weirdness that came along with it.

Author & Punisher – Women & Children Review

By Alex Franquelli on June 15, 2013 in 2013, 4.5, American Metal, Doom Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Reviews, Seventh Rule, Uncategorized, Doom Metal, 3 comments

“There’s a moment in time, at a certain point and it doesn’t even matter where, when one starts to wonder: how big is this machine? Does it have thoughts of its own? Where does the medium start and the human mind end? But does it matter, after all? Author & Punisher is a true son of post-industrial America: one of those people who may end up living their entire lives without having to turn the handles of a proper mechanical apparatus, smell the iron, wonder why its aroma is so similar to that of human blood and confuse form with substance. Machines – greasy joints dripping oil as if sweat – belong to zoos together with those strange animals (cows, goats, donkeys, etc.) young kids rarely see.” I for one would love to visit a mechanical zoo! Anywho, Alex provides us with more of his thoughtful musings on life, machinery and metal as he examines the new Author & Punisher opus.